BACKGROUND: Metabolic syndrome increases the risk for cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Many studies have revealed that eating frequency influences the total serum cholesterol level, glucose tolerance and obesity. Hypothesizing that an increase in eating frequency decreases the prevalence of metabolic syndrome with total energy intake adjusted, we evaluated the association between eating frequency and the risk of metabolic syndrome in Koreans aged more than 20 years old. METHODS: We used the data from the 2005 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Metabolic syndrome was defined according to the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III and the Asia-Pacific regional obesity guidelines. To examine the association of metabolic syndrome with eating frequency, snack frequency and meal frequency, we performed multiple logistic regression analysis adjusting for age, sex, physical activity, daily caloric intake, smoking and drinking. RESULTS: Meal frequency was associated with metabolic syndrome in the 20-45 years group (P=0.011). Eating frequency was significantly related with metabolic syndrome in the group aged more than 45 years (P=0.025). Within the subgroup of subjects more than 45 years who had one or two meals a day, snack frequency showed a significant association with metabolic syndrome (P=0.038). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that a decreased eating frequency is associated with a risk of metabolic syndrome, although the causal relationship is not exactly known. It would be useful to pursue this question through further studies.
Adult ; Aged ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Cholesterol ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; Eating ; Energy Intake ; Food Habits ; Glucose ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Meals ; Motor Activity ; Nutrition Surveys ; Obesity ; Prevalence ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Snacks

Background: Inflammation plays a major role in atherothrombosis, and measuring inflammatory markers such as high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) may provide a novel method for identifying individuals at high risk of plaque rupture. Atherogenesis results from the oxidation of lipids in low-density lipoprotein (LDL). Vitamin E facilitates the reduction in LDL-oxidation, and increases the antioxidant defense system. Therefore, our study aimed to examine the relationship between vitamin E and hs-CRP levels in Korean adults. Methods: We used data from the Seventh Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2016–2018). The study population included healthy adults aged >20 years. We investigated age, blood pressure, glucose levels, total cholesterol, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, body mass index, serum vitamin E, and serum hs-CRP levels. We analyzed the relationship between serum vitamin E and serum hs-CRP levels using multiple regression tests. Results: On statistical analysis, vitamin E levels showed a positive correlation with hs-CRP levels in the female group and the total of the unadjusted model. However, the R 2 value is low. After adjustment for factors that may affect hs-CRP, no significant correlation was observed between serum vitamin E and serum hs-CRP levels. Conclusion No significant correlation was observed between serum vitamin E and serum hs-CRP levels. Further research is needed on this topic.

PURPOSE: Despite of the development of recent medical technology, bloodstream infection (BSI) still has significant influences on mortality and morbidity of patients admitted to the ICU. The BSI has the second most frequent site. Especially BSI in ICU have higher infection rate than general ward. This study was investigated the incidence rate of the nosocomial BSI, risk factors and bacterial pathogens of BSI in ICU for a general hospital. METHODS: This study was carried out for those 443 patients in ICU of general hospital during the period from March 2002 to February 2003. The definition for BSI was based on that of CDC. Data was collected by questionnaire, medical record review. The statistical SPSS(ver. 10.0) was used to analyze data that included chi-square, t-test and logistic regression. RESULTS: In the incidence rates of the BSI were 76.7 in 1,000 per patients, 7.0 in per 1,000 patients days and 32.1 in per 1,000 patients with central lines, 3.2 in per 1,000 cental line days. In the incidence rates of the BSI by type of ICU showed MICU 10.1, SICU 2.9 in per 1,000 patients days. The significant risk factors were identified as type of ICU(OR=5.119, p=0.001), length of stay(OR=1.039, p=0.001). The causal microbes of the BSI were CNS 35.5%, MRSA 23.6%. The bacterial pathogens of central catheter-related BSI were CNS 50%, MRSA 50%. CONCLUSION: The occurrence of ICU-acquired infection was significantly related to the increase in morbidity and mortality. Ongoing targeted surveillance and infection control strategies is necessary to control this problem.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.) ; Hospitals, General* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infection Control ; Intensive Care Units* ; Critical Care* ; Logistic Models ; Medical Records ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus ; Mortality ; Patients' Rooms ; Risk Factors ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to estimate the socioeconomic costs resulting from alcohol drinking among adolescents as of 2006 from a societal perspective. METHODS: The costs were classified into direct costs, indirect costs, and other costs. The direct costs consisted of direct medical costs and direct non-medical costs. The indirect costs were computed by future income losses from premature death, productivity losses from using medical services and reduction of productivity from drinking and hangover. The other costs consisted of property damage, public administrative expenses, and traffic accident compensation. RESULTS: The socioeconomic costs of alcohol drinking among adolescents as of 2006 were estimated to be 387.5 billion won (0.05% of GDP). In the case of the former, the amount included 48.25% for reduction of productivity from drinking and hangover, 39.38% for future income losses from premature death, and 6.71% for hangover costs. CONCLUSIONS: The results showed that the socioeconomic costs of alcohol drinking among adolescents in Korea were a serious as compared with that of the United States. Therefore, the active interventions such as a surveillance system and a prevention program to control adolescents drinking by government and preventive medicine specialist are needed.
Accidents, Traffic/economics ; Adolescent ; Alcohol Drinking/*economics ; Costs and Cost Analysis ; Efficiency ; Health Services/economics/utilization ; Humans ; *Models, Economic ; Republic of Korea ; Socioeconomic Factors

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency is an X-linked recessive disorder and is the most common enzyme deficiency worldwide. Although this disease is rare in Korea, its prevalence may increase due to an increase of multicultural families. Patients with this deficiency are prone to hemolytic anemia provoked by specific drugs commonly used or prescribed in pediatric dentistry. It is necessary for pediatric dentists to have accurate knowledge of a patient's medical history and to consult with a pediatric hematologist to avoid oxidative stress that can lead to hemolysis. The most effective treatment is prevention of exposure to factors that may trigger anemia. Appropriate education regarding risk factors is essential for patients diagnosed with this disease. This case report aimed to discuss the drugs and dental management methods that should be cautious in children with G6PD deficiency.

Background: Serum uric acid levels have been reported to be associated with various conditions including psoriasis and metabolic syndrome, but their relationship with atopic dermatitis has not been studied adequately. This study aimed to investigate the association of atopic dermatitis with serum uric acid level and hyperuricemia in adult females and males. Methods: Using data from the 7th and 8th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, multiple linear and logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the association of atopic dermatitis with serum uric acid level and hyperuricemia respectively, with adjustment for potential confounding factors in females and males aged 19 years or older, respectively. Results: The study population included 14,504 female and 12,147 male participants. When adjusting for potential confounding factors, females with atopic dermatitis had a mean serum uric acid level of 0.13 mg/dL (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.03-0.24) higher than those without atopic dermatitis (P=0.013), and hyperuricemia was also more frequent in females with atopic dermatitis than those without atopic dermatitis (adjusted odds ratio, 1.86; 95% CI, 1.27-2.72; P=0.002). On the other hand, there were no significant differences in mean serum uric acid level and frequency of hyperuricemia between males with and without atopic dermatitis when adjusting for potential confounding factors. Conclusions These results show a close relationship of atopic dermatitis with elevated serum uric acid level and hyperuricemia in Korean adult females but not males.

Background: Recent studies reported a significant association between asthma and osteoarthritis, but the relationship between allergic rhinitis and osteoarthritis has not been studied sufficiently. This study aimed to determine the association between allergic rhinitis and osteoarthritis in adults. Methods: Using data from the 3rd to 8th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, multiple logistic and linear regression analyses were conducted to determine the association between allergic rhinitis and osteoarthritis with adjustment for potential confounding factors in participants aged 50 years or older. Results: When adjusted for potential confounders, doctor-diagnosed osteoarthritis (adjusted odds ratio [OR]=1.32, 95% confidence interval [95% CI]=1.12–1.57, P=0.001), knee pain (adjusted OR=2.42, 95% CI=1.32–4.41, P=0.004), and symptomatic knee osteoarthritis (adjusted OR=2.69, 95% CI=1.10–6.57, P=0.030) were all significantly more frequent in participants with allergic rhinitis than in those without it. Conclusions These findings show an evident association between allergic rhinitis and osteoarthritis in Korean adults.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the outcome variables of nursing unit managers’ transformational leadership and to test a hypothetical model using meta-analytic path analysis. Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. Data analysis, conducted using R version 3.6.2 software, included 49 studies for the meta-analysis and 119 studies for meta-analytic path analysis. Results: In the meta-analysis, four out of 32 outcome variables were selected. These four variables were empowerment, nursing performance, job satisfaction, and organizational commitment, which showed larger effect sizes than the median and more than five k. The hypothetical model for the meta-analytic path analysis was established by using these four variables and transformational leadership. A total of 22 hypothetical paths including nine direct effects and 13 indirect effects were set and tested. The meta-analytic path analysis showed that transformational leadership had direct effects on the four variables. Finally, eight direct effects, 12 indirect effects, and six mediating effects were statistically significant, and the hypothetical model was verified. Conclusion Nursing unit managers can use the transformational leadership to improve empowerment, nursing performance, job satisfaction, and organizational commitment of nurses. This study empirically showed the importance of transformational leadership of nursing managers. This finding will be used as evidence to develop strategies for enhancing transformational leadership, empowerment, nursing performance, job satisfaction, and organizational commitment in nursing science and practice.

PURPOSE: This study was done to identify trends in leadership-related research by reviewing studies on hospital nurses in South Korea.METHODS: The research was conducted from April 2 to 14, 2018 and search databases were RISS, KISS, DBpia, KM base, NAL, and NDSL. Search terms were ‘leadership’ and ‘nursing’ in the Korean language, and total 141 papers were selected.RESULTS: Analysis of the research on leadership showed that 96.4% of research methods were quantitative research, and 60.3% were predictive researches. For study settings, 46.2% were general hospitals, 96.5% were staff nurses. In the study of leadership variables, 60.3% were independent variables and recent leadership was used as a mediating variable (4.3%) and a moderating variable (2.8%). Among the leadership types, self-leadership (31.2%) was the most common, and the main variable related to leadership was job satisfaction (25.8%).CONCLUSION: These results provide useful data for deriving new research ideas about nursing leadership. Furthermore, this study has significance for providing the evidence for developing new leadership programs and policies in nursing organizations.
Hospitals, General ; Job Satisfaction ; Korea ; Leadership ; Negotiating ; Nursing ; Nursing Research

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the importance, performance and rates of nurses' performance of nursing interventions in long-term care hospitals. METHODS: A cross-sectional descriptive study was used and data were collected in 2015. Participants were 174 clinical nurses working in 14 long-term care hospitals. The collected data were analyzed using the SPSS/WIN 18.0. RESULTS: The nurses' perceived importance of nursing interventions was 4.48±0.51, and the degree of nursing intervention performance in long-term care hospitals was 3.97±1.07 out of 5. The rates of nursing interventions performed by nurses ranged from 33.9% to 99.4% with an average of 82.5%. There were statistically significant positive correlations among perceived importance, performance in hospitals, and rates for nurses' performance of nursing interventions (p<.001). CONCLUSION: The results indicate that interventions with a high degree of importance and performance could be the core nursing interventions in long-term care hospitals. These core nursing interventions should be included in education for nurses. These findings can be used in developing realistic guidelines and effective strategies for nurses and administrators to improve the quality of nursing and the status of nursing professionals in long-term care hospitals.
Administrative Personnel ; Education ; Humans ; Long-Term Care* ; Nursing*